by Mike Sohm, president of CAMA Services
Seeing lives transformed and communities restored happens through long-term development. As an example, I want to tell you a story about Jack*, an African who found himself in an international prison in Asia.
Spiritual Hunger
Jack remembers walking into his hot, humid cell for the first time to join 100 other inmates. He quickly learned the only food he would receive was rice and broth-like soup. Family or friends would need to bring food in if he was to eat anything else. Jack knew that wasn’t an option; he barely knew anyone in the country.
Jack began to fervently pray asking God for help. He fasted two days every month during his five-year sentence. We believe because of those prayers, a local blind woman heard about Jack and felt compelled to visit him. She asked Karen*, a CAMA worker, to go with her.
After seeing his spiritual hunger, a small team started to visit him and his friends in prison during the last two years of his sentence. When Jack was released, he asked to go to church where the pastor laid hands on him and prayed over him. Jack wept uncontrollably.
New Friends
Today a small international team, speaking about eight languages, continues to visit the prison weekly since meeting Jack nearly 12 years ago. They rotate their visits between 60 inmates, whom they now consider friends.
“Many of our friends rarely, or never, receive visits from family or friends,” Karen says. “In some cases, the families have rejected them.”
The team delivers vegetables and fish. They bring medicine and provide toothpaste, toothbrushes, detergent, and soap. Recently they helped build bathrooms for friends and families who travel from a distance and wait for visiting hours.
Set Free
Since Jack’s release, the number of inmates has grown significantly but in that crowded, hot, and humid Asian prison God is transforming lives.
One man, who was angry and unforgiving, accepted Christ and has learned to forgive. In the prison hospital, two female inmates came to know Him as well. One of them recently passed away from cancer into the arms of Jesus.
Pam* too heard the gospel over the three years she was in prison. When Pam was released earlier than expected, she had no idea where to find the team that visited her. She knew they went to church, so she asked a friend to take her to one nearby. Pam walked into the church and looked around. Surprisingly, she found Karen and hugged her and began to weep.
“Jesus washed away my sins when I was in prison,” Pam told the local believers. Today she is free and reunited with her daughter.
Changed Lives
Karen wrote to Jack, who is now back in Africa, to tell him Pam’s story. “My tears dropped down because her story is mine as well,” Jack wrote. “I can imagine all she is feeling now. You have changed my life as you are doing for many people. I am really thankful.”
Thank you for giving to support Karen through the CAMA Advance Fund and for covering her in prayer. She asks that we pray for long-term direction and leadership for the prison ministry, wisdom in using funds and resources, and for speakers of other languages who can join their team and tell inmates in their own language how to find freedom in Christ.
* Names changed